Cursor
What it is: AI-first code editor. Fork of VS Code with built-in AI. Cmd+K to generate code inline.
What It Does Best
Cmd+K magic. Highlight code, press Cmd+K, describe changes in natural language. It edits in place.
Codebase understanding. Chat with your entire codebase. Asks "where is user authentication?" and it finds it.
VS Code compatible. All your extensions work. Familiar interface. Easy switch from VS Code.
Key Features
Cmd+K inline editing: Edit code with natural language
Codebase chat: Ask questions about your entire project
Multi-file edits: Change multiple files at once
VS Code fork: All extensions and settings work
GPT-4 & Claude: Choose your preferred model
Pricing
Free: 2000 completions/month
Pro: $20/month (unlimited, GPT-4)
Business: $40/user/month (admin, security)
When to Use It
✅ Want AI deeply integrated, not a plugin
✅ Generate and refactor code conversationally
✅ Coming from VS Code (zero learning curve)
✅ Work with large codebases needing AI understanding
✅ Want to chat with your entire codebase
When NOT to Use It
❌ Happy with Copilot + ChatGPT workflow
❌ Use JetBrains IDEs (not available)
❌ Budget constrained ($20/mo vs Copilot's $10)
❌ Don't want to switch editors
❌ Need official Microsoft VS Code (this is fork)
Common Use Cases
Refactoring: Describe changes, Cursor edits multiple files
Codebase navigation: Chat to find where features are implemented
Feature building: Generate new features conversationally
Code review: Ask AI about code quality and patterns
Learning codebases: Understand unfamiliar projects quickly
Cursor vs Alternatives
vs VS Code + Copilot: Cursor has deeper AI integration
vs GitHub Copilot: Cursor adds codebase chat and inline edits
vs Continue: Cursor is full editor, Continue is plugin
Unique Strengths
Native AI integration: AI built-in, not bolted-on
Cmd+K workflow: Inline editing is transformative
Codebase awareness: Understands entire project context
VS Code compatibility: Keep your workflow and extensions
Bottom line: The future of coding today. Feels like VS Code but AI is everywhere. If you're all-in on AI development, this is it.